Multiple refillable fuse.



F. J. CLEAVER.

MULTIPLE REFILLABLE FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 5. 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- 1V L I Patented May 22, 1917.

0/ B I H E 5 F H a INVENTOR.

WITN ESSI ATTORNEYS.

F. J. CLEAVER.

MULTIPLE REFILLABLE FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 5, ms.

1,226,780. Patented May 22,1917.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREMONT J. CLEAVEB, OF CARNEGIE BOBOUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIBD TO SAMUEL L. H. MORRIS AND ONE-THIRD TO HERBERT W. HODGDON, BOTH mums BEFILLAIBLE rnsn.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented May '22, 1917.

Application filed October 5, 1915. Serial lid-54,281.

provements in Multiple Refillable Fuses, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a multiple, refillable electric-fuse.

My improved fuse is characterized by a slurality of fusible elements which, without.

isassembling the fuse, may singly or one at a time be placed in circuit until all of the fusible elements are fused. Said elements are preferably arranged in the form of a cartridge or filler, so that, when all of the fusible elements in the cartridge have been blown, the used cartridge may be removed from the fuse casing and a fresh cartridge substituted.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will appear from the following description. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 1s a longitudinal section of one of my improved fuses; Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the insulating washers; Fig. 4 is a section along the line IVIV in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section along the line VV in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a modification; Fig. 7 is a section along the line VIIVII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the cartridge removed from the fuse casing; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of a second modification; Fig; 10 is an end View of the samelooking toward the left in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is an isometric view of the plug used in connection with the fuse shown in Fig. 9.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings, reference being first had to Figs l, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

A is a circular plate of brass or other conductive material, provided on one face with an annular series of sockets 1 in which are soldered or otherwise secured the butts of the brass studs or projections 2. Tothe outer ends of said studs are soldered or otherwise permanently attached tire-fusible elements B, shown as wires, one of said elements, being attached to each stud. Said" fusible elementsare provided with a reduced asbestos intermediate portion or zone 6 to localize the fusion when the same takes place).

C 1s a circular washer of insulating material, such as fiber, of somewhat less diameter than the. plate A and provided with perforations 3 through which thestuds 2 ex: tend.- D is a similar insulating washer of still less diameter provided with tapered perforations 4 which cover the unions between the studs and the fusible members and through which said members protrude, as shown.

E represents longitudinally slit tubes of or other insulating. material, slipped over the elements B and having their slits or lines of severance turned inwardly, as shown in' Fig. 2. Normally said slits are tightly closed, thus holding the elements in air-tight tubes, but when the element fuses or blows, said slits open to exhaust the arc and permit the gases to escape. The other ends of said elements protrude from said tubes through perforations 5 in a second fiber washer F which is also provided with a central aperture 6.

The washer F .is of the same diameter as the washer D.

G is a-circular plug of insulating mate rial, of the same diameter as the washer C,

Said

chored in the perforations of said plug.

The inner ends of said nipples are provided with sockets in which the ends of the olements Bare secured in any convenient manner, asby solder. The. outer ends of said nipples are interiorly threaded for a purpose to be described.

H is a cylindrical wrapping or envelop of insulating paper or fabric whose edges are overlapped and pasted together and whose ends encircle the washers D and F and abut against the washer C and the plug G. The space within the envelop between and about the tubes E is'filled with an arc-absorbing material, I, such as chemiclose electrical contact.

cally treated asbestos particles, which may be filled in through the apertures 6 and 6, which. apertures alsefserve to permit the escape of the gases generated by the fuslon of one of the elements x The parts above described are thus assembled together to form a cartridge, shown to slip down over the cartridge and abut against the face of the brass plate A, as shown in Fig. 1, the cylinder being of sufficient length to protrude beyond the plug G slightly, as shown.

K is a brass cap provided with an annular flange which fits over the edge of the brass plate A and over the end ofthe cylin der J. Screws 9 extend through holes in the head of cap K and engage threaded holes inthe brass plate A whereby said cap and said plate are drawn together in Said cap is preferably provided with the usual knife-blade contact 10. Screws 11 extend through holes in the flange of the cap K and the cylinder J into threaded'holes in the perimeter of washer'C.

L is the cap for the other end of the fuse provided with an annular flange which fits over the other end of cylinder J but is held out of contact with the plug G by the length ofsaid cylinder extending beyond said plug- Thus there is no direct contact between the cap L and the nipples 7. Screws ll extend through. holes in the flange of the cap L and cylinder J into threaded holes-in thevperimeter of the plug G, said threaded holes being positioned to properly place the cap. The cap L is provided with an annular series of holes 12, each in alinement with one ofthe nipples 7 ofthe plug G. Said holes 12 are threaded, and 13 is a brass screw which may be screwed into any one .of the holes 12 and into the threaded bore of the nipple 7 which is in alinement with the particular hole 12.

It'is evident that electrical connection is one of the fusible knife-blade contact of the elements -B are connected between. the caps K and L, so that when the element B which is so connected is fused or blows, the screw 13 is changed to another position, thus putting each of the elements into circuit until they have all become fused, when the car- .tridge is removed and one full of intact fuses is substituted. The removal of the cartridge is readily eifected"by loosening 66 the screws, 9, 11 and 11 and also taking out the screw 13. Then the caps K. and L and the cylinder J are removed and placed upon a fresh cartridge.

The cartridges may be assembled at the factory and sold to consumers to be installed by the latter when required.

When a fusible element B blows, the arc will escape from the tube E and be absorbed by the filling I and the gases generated by said fusion will escape through the apertures 6 and 6 and the unoccupied screw holes 12 in the ca 1 L to atmosphere. The slitting of the tu e E ermits the escape of the arcs and gases without rupture and Without interfering with' inclosure of the unblown fusible members.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I show the fusible members in the form of flat blades B, the studs 2 being of similar cross-section and the washers C, D and F being provided with radially placed slots instead of round holes.

Said fusible members are provided with envelops E of rectangular cross-sectioninstead of the round tubes E of Fig. 1, said envelops E having their inner walls slit, as shown in Fig. 7. The ends of elements B are secured in slots in. the ends of the nipples 7 of the plug G.

In Figs. 9, l0 and-11 I show modified means for completin the circuit through the fusible elements instead of the contact screw shown in the prior views.' The ends of the elements B are here attached to the inner ends of the contact posts 15 which are fixed in the plug M of insulating material. The ends of said posts 15 protrude from the outer face of said plug, forming an annular series of spaced. apart contact points.

The end ofcap L is cut away at the 4 center to leave an annular flange 16 which fits down into the annular shoulder. 17 on the end of the plug. '18 is an annular raised lip on said flange of cap L concentric with said plug.

A contactarm 19 is pivoted on the insulated headed pin 29 mounted at the axis of plug M. Said arm is rotatable into any position, thus enabling connection .to be completedbetween the lip 18 and any one of the contact posts 15. Thus any) one of the fusible members may be connected to the caps, and when said member blows, the

contact arm 19 may. be shifted to connect up another fusible member; A spring 21 on the pin 20 insures good, contact on the part of arm 19. 22 are perforationsthrouih I the plug M to permit the escape of gases of fusion. a

The form of fuse illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 is particularly intended for use in connection with currents'of relative low amperage, and the caps are shown adapted to be mounted in the usual spring clamp contact members.

from the fuse,

. From the foregoing, it isevident that my improved fuse, in the several forms illustrated, is attended by many and important advantages. Thus 'the fuse need notbe renewed after each blowing, but the. movable contact need only be switchedto restore the v circuit. No injury is received by the fuse from the blowing ofits fusible members, as the split tubes protect the various fusible elements from injury, the arcs are absorbed by the filling and the gases escape freely What I desire to claim is 1. In a'm'ultiple, refillable'fuse, the combination of a pair of end members of conductive material adapted to be electrically connected to opposing line terminals, a pluralityof fusible members having their one ends-fixed .to one of said end members and extending toward the second end member,

' an insulating member adjacent tothe second end member, a plurality of socket members of conductive material carried by said insulating member and insulated from each other, the end of each of said fusible members being held in one of said socket members, and a movable conductive element adapted to' establish electrical connection I between any oneof' said' socket members and the secondend member, for the purpose described.

2, In a multiple, refillable fuse, 'thecombination of a pair of end members of conductive material adapted to be electrically connected to opposing line terminals, a plurality of fusible members having their one endsQfixed to one of-said ends members and extending toward the second end member, an insulating member adjacent to the second end member, a' plurality of socket mengr bers ofconductive material carried by said insulating member and insulated from each other, the end of each-of said fusible mem-. bers being held in oneof said socket members, a movable conductive element adapted Y to establishelectrical connection between any 'one of'said socket members and the second end member, and an insulating cylinder in-- 'terposed between said end members to inclose said fusible members, for the purpose described.

3. In a multiple, refillable fuse, the c'ombination of a pair of end members; of conductive material'adapted to be connected to opposing line terminals, a plurality of fusible members having their one ends fixed to one of said end members and extending toward the second end member, an insulating member adjacent to the second end member, a plurality of socket members of conductive material carried by said insulating member and insulated from each other, the end of each of said fusible members being held'in one of said socket members and said socket members being provided with outer threaded bores, and a conductive screw member adapted to be inserted through the second end member and screwed into the bore of any one of said socket members, for the purpose described.

4. In a multiple, refillable fuse,'the com bination of a pair of end members of convductive material adapted to be connected to opposing line terminals, a plurality of fusible members having their one ends fixed to one ofsaid end members and extending toward the second end member, an insulating member adjacent to the second end member, a plurality of socket members of conductive material carried by said insulatihg member and insulated from each other, the end of each of said fusible members being held in one of said socket members-and said socket members being provided with outer threaded bores, a conductive screw member adapted to be inserted through the second end members and screwed into the bore of any one of said socket members,

and an insulating cylinder interposed between said end members to inclose said fusible members, for the purpose described.

5. In a multiple, refillable fuse, the oombination of a pair of conductive end mem-- their envelops for the purpose described.

7 Signed at Pittsburgh, Penna, this firth day of- October, 1915.

FREMONT J. 'CLEAVER. 

